Painting limestone on Victorian exterior

[oydidibegin]

Lumps of paint (and a layer of stone?) are coming away from the limestone detail on exterior of my Victorian house. I suspect this is where water has got in and frozen.

What is the cheapest way of protecting this in the short term? If I take off all of the loose stuff, will masonry paint 'take' on this surface if I give it a going over with a wire brush first? Do I have to 'seal' it first with something? Is there any other sort of paint I could use?

I realise that these areas will be obvious, but I need to do something for the short term.

Thanks for any ideas.

 

[Zampa]

Give it a good rub with a stiff brush and then a coat of stabilising solution...allow to dry for a couple of days and then use either water or oil based masonry paint on it.

 

[oydidibegin]

Thanks Zampa............ I'll give it a go.

 

[Zampa]

Thinbking about it...dont botther with the stabiliser...thin the first coat of oil based masonry..its self priming/sealing